Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1887-02-17

Dynamite For A Singer.
A Rude Shock at PATHS Con-
cert In San Francisco.
An Aged Crank Makes Some Evil
Remarks About the Diva and
j. @. Flood and Prematureiy
Expodes a Bomb Which
Injuries Himself-Pat-
ii Gains the
House.
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 10.-A crank
attempted to kill Adelina Patti during
a concert at the Grand opera house by
means Of bomb. The would-be assas-
sin was injured, though not seriously,
by the premature explosion of the en-
CINE of destruction. it was PATHS
last concert and the Grand opera house
was crowded. at 1920 after Patti had
twice appeared in front of the curtain
in response to recalls at :he conclusion
of an aria from La Traviata, and just
as she had retired again to the wings,
tremendous explosion was heard above
the applause, and cloud of smoke was
seen to rise over the railing of the top
gallery. Instantly every lorgnette in
the house was focused on the spot
where the smoke arose and panic was
imminent. People in the gallery were
rushing about, seeking the quickest
means of exit, and it was only through
the self-possession of the newspaper
men present IL the boxes coupled with
that CT the diva herself, that stam-
pede of the entire audience for the
doors was prevented.
The newspaper men were in the
stage box, and they quickly perceived
that no serious harm had been done.
They communicated by mods and mo-
tions with Nine. Patti, who was still
in the flies, to come before :he curtain.
She comDrehended the situation and
came forward quickly, and giving the
cue to Arditi, began singing Home
Sweet Home. This had calming ef-
feet on the audience, and though many
left their seats to ascertain the cause
and effect of the unexpected punctua-
tion to the performance, the concert
was carried on to its conclusion. AS
soon as the location Of the trouble could
be learned a policeman rushed to the
scene and found a man with badly
burned face and hands moaning with
agony, and the remains of an Internal
machine about him. He was placed
under arrest and conveyed to Irving
hospital, where he said that when he
stopped to pick UP his hat and cane he
found package under his seat which
he picked up, and that as he raised it
to see what it was, it exploded.
Though he was badly burned about the
face and hands, it is believed he receiv-
ed no serious injuries, and no other per-
son is belieyed to have been hurt. He
gave his name as DR.. James Hodges,
aged seventy-one years, dyspepsia
specialist, and his residence at No. 4
Central place.
Others give a different, but undoubt-
edIy correct, version of the affair. A
lady who sat next to him, and who
narrowly escaped injury, says that dur
ing the evening he made number of
significant remarks which pointed
clearly to the purpose he afterward at
tempted to carry out. Among the OBJ
servations which the lady distinctly re-
membered was Patti is singing ex-
cellently tonight, but she will never
sing any more.' He was also heard to
make uncomplimentary and revengeful
illusions to J. c. Flood and his family,
who were present N a box. AT the
Irving hospital, after his wounds had
been dressed, the chief of police at
tempted to make him commit himself,
but the effort was complete failure.
He stoutly maintained his innocence.
The chief of police pronounced him a
crank.
The bomb was made of can filled
with powder, in the centre of which
was bottle. The can was wrapped in
pieces of cloth soaked in infamable oil,
and it is believed that the intention
was not only to kill Patti and those
near the stage. but also to set fire to
the building. The bomb was arranged
to explode by number of friction
matches, which were connected with
fuse in the powder. The theory is that
the fuse burned too quickly for the
crank and theexplosion was premature.
Though Patti performed her part in
the remainder of the programme, it
was noticeable that the occurrence had
considerable effect upon her and had
somewhat suhdued her usual Yivacity.